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I believe the is actually a requirement for them to have all Hi Definition channels local into local that are available up and running in so many markets by a certain date, and then more and more until they have them all by 2015 or 2016. So at some point, I expect all Hi Definition local channels everywhere to be available in every market.

I believe the is actually a requirement for them to have all Hi Definition channels local into local that are available up and running in so many markets by a certain date, and then more and more until they have them all by 2015 or 2016. So at some point, I expect all Hi Definition local channels everywhere to be available in every market.

The agreement both satellite providers made with the FCC states that by February 2013, in any market where that provider carries any local station in HD they must offer all local stations carriage in HD. So if you live in a market with at least one local HD station expect them all by next February - but if you live in a market with no HD local carriage the satellite company can remain all SD. It is a "carry one, carry all" requirement - just like the rules for carrying SD.

Perhaps this will further encourage Alan ... perhaps not. It all depends on if there is any local carriage in the market.

The agreement both satellite providers made with the FCC states that by February 2013, in any market where that provider carries any local station in HD they must offer all local stations carriage in HD. So if you live in a market with at least one local HD station expect them all by next February - but if you live in a market with no HD local carriage the satellite company can remain all SD. It is a "carry one, carry all" requirement - just like the rules for carrying SD.

Perhaps this will further encourage Alan ... perhaps not. It all depends on if there is any local carriage in the market.

Yeah... I couldn't remember the year. Potentially good news though...

I wonder if there is a loophole in the agreement when the channel offers an HD feed, but does not broadcast it over the air.

Either way, the February 2013 rule certainly explains DirecTV's agressive local additions.

I wonder if there is a loophole in the agreement when the channel offers an HD feed, but does not broadcast it over the air.

I believe so ... it must be transmitted for it to be protected. This doesn't mean a satellite carrier cannot carry a HD feed of a station that only transmits SD ... only that they would not be required to.

The agreement both satellite providers made with the FCC states that by February 2013, in any market where that provider carries any local station in HD they must offer all local stations carriage in HD. So if you live in a market with at least one local HD station expect them all by next February - but if you live in a market with no HD local carriage the satellite company can remain all SD. It is a "carry one, carry all" requirement - just like the rules for carrying SD.

Perhaps this will further encourage Alan ... perhaps not. It all depends on if there is any local carriage in the market.

Yep. I wasn't complete earlier. What I don't recall is if it's all markets immediately, or if it scales in.

I believe so ... it must be transmitted for it to be protected. This doesn't mean a satellite carrier cannot carry a HD feed of a station that only transmits SD ... only that they would not be required to.

The LA market has one like that just launched;

KJLA-DT 57 broadcast only in SD, in fact they have to since there's no available bandwidth for HD as they broadcast nine secondary sub-channels!

Yep. I wasn't complete earlier. What I don't recall is if it's all markets immediately, or if it scales in.

It scales in. Effective last February (2012) 60% of all markets with at least one channel carried in HD had to offer HD carriage to all channels in the market that broadcast HD (as a primary signal). Prior to February 2012 the threshold was 30%.

(Note "of markets with at least one channel in HD" - if a market has no HD locals carried or no carriage at all it doesn't count against the percentage. For example, if 100 of the 210 markets had at least one channel per market in HD then right now HD carriage would have to be offered to all channels in 60 of those markets. The other 110 markets could remain SD or not carried.)

The agreement with the FCC is only the minimum. Satellite carriers can carry channels beyond the minimum they agreed with the FCC to carry (for example, second HD feeds where a single station transmits two HD channels or non-broadcast HD versions of the SD broadcasts).

The good news is that, within the agreement, it means more HD - even if it is only within local markets. The bad news is that there is no timeline as to when all stations in all markets must be offered HD carriage.

Washington, D.C. (July 27, 2012) -- Pac 12 conference and TV executives are optimistic that DIRECTV will sign a carriage agreement to carry the new Pac-12 Network, which will carry Pac 12 college football and basketball games, reports The San Jose Mercury News.

UNIVERSAL CITY -- Pac-12 commissioner Larry Scott said Tuesday that he is optimistic the league's fledgling television networks will sign a carriage agreement with DirecTV before the football season.

DirecTV has approximately 20 million subscribers nationally.

Scott said the source of his optimism is the "caliber of our content'' -- in particular, the dozens of football games on the Pac-12 Networks this season. The programming lineup includes a bevy of matchups featuring top-ranked teams like USC and Oregon.

"Content is king,'' Scott said.

The seven Pac-12 Networks (one national and six regional) are scheduled to launch Aug. 15. Scott offered no time frame for an agreement with DirecTV or any other satellite or cable company.

Scott said the source of his optimism is the "caliber of our content'' -- in particular, the dozens of football games on the Pac-12 Networks this season. The programming lineup includes a bevy of matchups featuring top-ranked teams like USC and Oregon.

So, nothing about actual negotiations going on, just "our stuff is great! and if Directv doesn't pay whatever we demand for it, it's all their fault."

.................... There are none so blind as those who can not see it in HD........... Directv customer since January 2000...........

So, nothing about actual negotiations going on, just "our stuff is great! and if Directv doesn't pay whatever we demand for it, it's all their fault."

Well, from the tweets I got from DirecTV and what has been reported in the news as of late, there is reason to think that a carriage agreement will be signed, and it is more about "ironing out the details" than anything else.

But as we have seen with Viacom, one sticking point can make a deal go sour.

[Disclaimer] The definition of "soon" is based solely on DirecTV's interpretation of the word, and all similarities with dictionary definitions of the word "soon" are purely coincidental and should not be interpreted as a time frame that will come to pass within a reasonable amount of time.

Re: TCM HD: Does anyone know why Robert Osbournes preview for each movie is not in full screen. It's boxed on all four sides. Just curious.

That usually happens when the following happened:

1) The preview was originally in a widescreen format. (Or, they used widescreen film for the preview).2) The preview was recorded/stored in a 4:3 format on broadcast tape, which would, on a 4:3 TV, cause a bar on the bottom and top.3) This tape, in turn, was used to broadcast on TCMHD, causing additional black bars on the sides.

Result: Black box.

Perhaps the preview was old. Used years ago, and just pulled out of the archive to promote that they are broadcasting said movie again.

[Disclaimer] The definition of "soon" is based solely on DirecTV's interpretation of the word, and all similarities with dictionary definitions of the word "soon" are purely coincidental and should not be interpreted as a time frame that will come to pass within a reasonable amount of time.

1) The preview was originally in a widescreen format. (Or, they used widescreen film for the preview).2) The preview was recorded/stored in a 4:3 format on broadcast tape, which would, on a 4:3 TV, cause a bar on the bottom and top.3) This tape, in turn, was used to broadcast on TCMHD, causing additional black bars on the sides.

Result: Black box.

Perhaps the preview was old. Used years ago, and just pulled out of the archive to promote that they are broadcasting said movie again.

BTW:

While I realize you and others are likely using the term "tape" in a loose sense for recorded video on whatever actual form or medium. To be technically accurate though, isn't virtually everything in a modern broadcast facility today coming off digital video file servers?

While I realize you and others are likely using the term "tape" in a loose sense for recorded video on whatever actual form or medium. To be technically accurate though, isn't virtually everything in a modern broadcast facility today coming off digital video file servers?

Linear tape is a relic of the past I thought.

Yes, I would imagine that most TV stations have converted their library to a datacenter instead of using tapes. That said, broadcast tapes are still being used, either the BETACAM or DCMPRO format. They are digital already by the way, the information on the tape is digital just like DAT tapes in the audio industry that have been used for about 10 years before the first MP3 was even invented.

It could also very well be that TV stations DO have a tape library still, because they haven't converted everything. I would imagine this is up to the stations to decide.

[Disclaimer] The definition of "soon" is based solely on DirecTV's interpretation of the word, and all similarities with dictionary definitions of the word "soon" are purely coincidental and should not be interpreted as a time frame that will come to pass within a reasonable amount of time.

Yes, I would imagine that most TV stations have converted their library to a datacenter instead of using tapes. That said, broadcast tapes are still being used, either the BETACAM or DCMPRO format. They are digital already by the way, the information on the tape is digital just like DAT tapes in the audio industry that have been used for about 10 years before the first MP3 was even invented.

It could also very well be that TV stations DO have a tape library still, because they haven't converted everything. I would imagine this is up to the stations to decide.

OK;

But thought that any video tape material, even if digital, is rarely if ever aired that way, but is run through "ingest" servers for storage as digitally compressed files in a main storage facility somewhere (typically an "SAN" architecture) where any editing, graphics insertion, etc. or other manipulation of the file takes takes place for long term storage and eventual transfer to "playout" servers for airing at the desired time.

But thought that any video tape material, even if digital, is rarely if ever aired that way, but is run through "ingest" servers for storage as digitally compressed files in a main storage facility somewhere (typically an "SAN" architecture) where any editing, graphics insertion, etc. or other manipulation of the file takes takes place for long term storage and eventual transfer to "playout" servers for airing at the desired time.

I would think most major stations have everything they are going to air stored on a digital medium of some sorts. But if it hasn't aired in years, it might not be on a digital medium yet, and they will digitize it to their data center before they air it. The cost of doing everything at once is probably too high for it to be a smart business decision. Doing it in stages, or "as needed for broadcast" is probably the way they go.

[Disclaimer] The definition of "soon" is based solely on DirecTV's interpretation of the word, and all similarities with dictionary definitions of the word "soon" are purely coincidental and should not be interpreted as a time frame that will come to pass within a reasonable amount of time.

1) The preview was originally in a widescreen format. (Or, they used widescreen film for the preview).2) The preview was recorded/stored in a 4:3 format on broadcast tape, which would, on a 4:3 TV, cause a bar on the bottom and top.3) This tape, in turn, was used to broadcast on TCMHD, causing additional black bars on the sides.

Result: Black box.

Perhaps the preview was old. Used years ago, and just pulled out of the archive to promote that they are broadcasting said movie again.

The Osborne pieces are not usually reused. Remarkably, he often talks about the movie shown before and/or after the current movie. That would work for festivals that they repeat but his comments are often very topical.

I think they just don't have an HD studio and rather than stretch it, they just leave it be.

It scales in. Effective last February (2012) 60% of all markets with at least one channel carried in HD had to offer HD carriage to all channels in the market that broadcast HD (as a primary signal). Prior to February 2012 the threshold was 30%.

(Note "of markets with at least one channel in HD" - if a market has no HD locals carried or no carriage at all it doesn't count against the percentage. For example, if 100 of the 210 markets had at least one channel per market in HD then right now HD carriage would have to be offered to all channels in 60 of those markets. The other 110 markets could remain SD or not carried.)

The agreement with the FCC is only the minimum. Satellite carriers can carry channels beyond the minimum they agreed with the FCC to carry (for example, second HD feeds where a single station transmits two HD channels or non-broadcast HD versions of the SD broadcasts).

The good news is that, within the agreement, it means more HD - even if it is only within local markets. The bad news is that there is no timeline as to when all stations in all markets must be offered HD carriage.

And as I recall cable had different rules, and there's where more strict.

And there will never be a requirement for all channels to go Hi Definition. otherwise they never would have had sd digital specs in the firs place, Unfortunatly.